Google grant expands public Wi-Fi in downtown Boulder

BOULDER — Public Wi-Fi along Pearl Street in downtown Boulder is about to get a lot stronger, thanks to a $216,000 grant from Google Inc.

The Downtown Boulder Foundation announced the grant July 23, noting that it will allow for “a major expansion and stronger coverage of the free Pearl Street WiFi network,” according to a press release.

Google’s contribution paid for new equipment along the Pearl Street Mall, with additional coverage added from the East to the West End districts. The prior Wi-Fi service, provided by the Downtown Boulder Business Improvement District, covered the four-block…